Moongazing: Beginner’s guide to exploring the Moon

Copyright

Published by Collins

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Westerhill Road

Bishopbriggs

Glasgow G64 2QT

www.harpercollins.co.uk

In association with

Royal Museums Greenwich, the group name for the National Maritime Museum,

Royal Observatory Greenwich, Queen’s House and Cutty Sark

www.rmg.co.uk

© HarperCollins Publishers 2018

Text © National Maritime Museum

Cover photograph: ©Tom Kerss

Images and illustrations see acknowledgements

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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

eBook Edition © Nov 2018

ISBN 9780008313920

Version: [2018-08-31]

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

The Moon

The Moon and its Origin

The Moon’s Orbit and Rotation

Lunar Cycle and Phases

Surface Features

History of Lunar Observation

History of Lunar Exploration

Observing the Moon

Choosing a telescope

Eyepieces and Filters

Sketching

Special Events

Eclipses

Conjunctions and Occultations

Supermoon

Blue Moon

Lunar Atlas

Introduction to the Lunar Atlas

Lunar Atlas

Astrophotography

Lunar Astrophotography

Afocal Smartphone Photography

Wide-Angle and Telephoto Lunar Photography

Lunar Photography with a Telescope

Understanding Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)

Processing Videos and Images

Creating Videos from DSLR Images

Revealing the Moon’s True Colours

Glossary of Terms

Software References

Observing Log

Index to Lunar Atlas Features

Acknowledgements

About the Publisher

Introduction

The Moon is our celestial companion; a source of light; a comfort to many; an icon. It is older than history, and has accompanied our species, hanging silently above, since we emerged from the oceans, where its presence is still felt today. It is the master of the tides – perhaps the key to life itself – and it has inspired stories, poetry, music, and visual artworks of great beauty.

Today we live in an age where the entirety of the Moon’s surface has been mapped in astonishing detail from orbit, and human beings have left imprints in its soil. It may seem like there is nothing left to discover there, and yet the Moon keeps calling to us – a hypnotic siren song, urging us to revisit it. Our longing to explore has never been stronger.

A modern amateur telescope – even an inexpensive one – can take you on your own personal voyage to the Moon, where you’ll find a timeless landscape whose deep shadows and brilliant highlights are ever changing. Its serene character betrays its true nature as a world of incredible extremes. You can spend a lifetime enjoying these views, and placing yourself there in your mind, just as every great lunar observer before you has, since the invention of the telescope four centuries ago.

It is my hope that this guide will get you better acquainted with the Moon, enabling you to begin making your own observations, and producing your own images. There is no better destination for new space travellers, and the advice ahead will help you take one small step to reach it. Good luck!

Dedicated to Patrick Moore, my mentor and friend. I miss you.

Tom Kerss

The Moon setting in the morning sky over Icelandic mountains.

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